Spring structure



Dec. 8 1942. A. PUDLQ- 2,304,652

SPRING STRUCTURE I Filed July 21, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.2.

v INVENTOR. ANTHONY PUDLO BY w W, WYW

ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1942.

A. PUDLO 2,304,652

SPRING STRUCTURE Filed July 21, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ANTHONY I PUDLO W WYM ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 8, 1942 SPRING STRUCTURE Anthony Pudlo, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Falls Spring and Wire Com pany, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Application July 21, 1941, Serial No. 403,433

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to spring structures and refers more particularly to those designed for use in vehicle seat cushions and the like.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide a spring structure with a forwardly projecting or overhanging upper edge portion to obtain the desired width or sitting area at the top of the structure while maintaining the area of the structure below said edge portion at predetermined less dimensions for proper placement upon a correspondingly small supporting portion of the vehicle.

Another object is to provide a forwardly projecting edge portion that includes a part of the upper border wire and a reinforced auxiliary or secondary wire of the spring structure.

Another object is to provide a forwardly projecting edge portion that cooperates with suitable upholstery or covering material to provide the desired sitting edge of the seat cushion.

Another object is to provide a forwardly projecting edge portion wherein the reinforcement for the secondary wire includes a strip of spring meta1 that will yield when subjected to a load but. I

will spring back and restore the parts with which it is associated to normal position when relieved of such load.

Another object is to provide a forwardly projecting edge portion mentioned affords freedom of movement in a vertical direction of the upright coil springs of the structure unhampered by braces or other impediments.

Another object is to provide a forwardly projecting edge portion wherein the reinforcement and cooperating auxiliary wire are connected to the upright coil springs and pockets therefor at the margins of the spring structure and keep. upright the pockets for said springs latter may flex freely within the limits of the pockets.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a spring structure embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom, plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a front elevation thereof;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of Figure 1;

Figure. 5 is a, vertical Sectional view taken sub.-

wherein the reinforcement. 1

So th t the stantially on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings, A is the lower frame, B is the upper frame, and C are the intermediate upright coil springs of a spring structure embodying my invention.

As shown, the lower frame A is preferably rectangular-shape and comprises two substantially U-shaped pressed metal strips Ill and II that open toward each other and have the arms thereof abutting in end-to-end relation and rigidly connected together. Projecting inwardly from this frame are lateral flanges l2 upon which are mounted suitable crossed wires l3 and M, respectively, constituting supports for the coil springs C, while in the bottom face of said frame is a downwardly opening channel l5 containing a suit-able tacking strip i6 for the margins of the upholstery material (not shown) that is employed to cover the spring structure.

The upper frame B includes a border wire l1, an auxiliary or secondary wire 18, and reinforcing strips [9, 20, 2| and 22, respectively. Preferably the area of the border wire ll is greater from front to rear of the structure than the area of the lower frame A so that the front side 23 of said border wire is a predetermined distance in advance of but substantially parallel to the vertical plane in which the front side 24 of the lower frame is located. The auxiliary wire i8 is substantially parallel to the front side 23 of I-.. the border wire and is substantially in vertical alignment with the front side 24 of the lower frame. Opposite ends 25 and 23, respectively, of this auxiliary wire are bent along and are secured by clips 2'! and 28, respectively, to the rearwardly extending portions 29 and 30, respectively, of the border wire. Intermediate its ends such wire l8 has two spaced substantially U-shaped loops 3| projecting forwardly and secured by clips 32 to the front side 23 of the border wire. The reinforcing strips H! to 22, inclusive, are formed of spring metal and extend along the auxiliary wire 18 and the rearwardly extending and rear portions 33, 3'5 and 35, respectively, of the border wire. Preferably these strips are of suflicient width to overhang slightly the outer sides of the auxiliary wire l8 and portions 33 to 35, inclusive, of the border wire and to overlie the coil springs C at the margins of the spring structure. Any suitable means such as the clips 36 may be used to secure the strips 9 to 22, in-

clusive, to the auxiliary wire 18 and portions 33 to 35, inclusive, of the border wire.

The coil springs C are arranged in a group between the upper and lower frames A and B and preferably are in parallel rows extending longitudinally of the structure. Each row of springs has a covering 31 of some coarse fabric such as burlap, and the springs of each row are individually enclosed in pockets 38 of such covering. The bottoms 39 of these pockets form seats for the lowermost convolutions 40 of the coil springs and rest upon the crossed wires l3 and M on the lower frame A. Any suitable means such as the hog rings 4| may be employed to connect the bottoms 39 of the pockets and the lowermost convolutions 40 of the springs to said wires I3, and it will be noted that these rings 4| also interconnect the lowermost convolutions 40 and bottoms 39 of ,the pockets throughout the structure. At the margins of the spring structure the uppermost convolutions 43 of the coil springs C and the tops 44 of the pockets 38 for said springs are connected by hog rings 45 to the auxiliary wire !8 and portions 33 to 35, inclusive, of the border wire, while throughout the structure the uppermost convolutions 43 of adjacent coil springs and the tops 44 of the pockets for said springs are preferably interconnected by hog rings at. Likewise, at the margins of the structure the reinforcing strips 19 to 22, inclusive, are connected to the upper convolutions 43 of the underlying springs C and tops 44 of the pockets therefor adjacent the auxiliary wire l8 and portions 33 to 35, inclusive, of the border Wire. Thus, an interconnected group of individually enclosed springs is provided between the upper and lower frames A and B, and since the individual springs are in pockets that are anchored as aforesaid, these springs are held partially compressed. This insures the proper depth of spring structure while at the same time permitting the individual springs to flex freely within the limits of the pockets.

Thus, from the foregoing, it will be apparent that the outer longitudinal edges 4'3, :38 and 49, respectively, of the strips 20 to 22, inclusive, provide straight edges for the upholstery material or other covering (not shown) for the spring structure. The strip 2| at the rear of the structure also insures a straight joint between the seat cushion and a seat back (not shown) and therefore will eliminate bowed or irregular edge formations and resulting holes heretofore present between such seat cushion and seat back. The strips also provide flexible couplings between the upper border wire H and auxiliary wire l8 and adjacent coil springs C and pockets 38 therefor. springs C therein will be held in the proper upright position, and the reinforcing strips is to 22, inclusive, will be held flat on the upper border wire and auxiliary wire. Actually the Consequently, the pockets 3-3 and reinforcing strips serve as flexible protectors for the portions of the border wire and auxiliary wire covered thereby and will automatically spring back and restore the parts to normal position after being subjected to loads. Moreover, such strips afford freedom of movement in a vertical direction of the coil springs C of the structure unhampered by diagonal braces or other impediments heretofore used in such-structures. In this connection, the underlying coil springs C will serve as flexible hackers and will cooperate with said strips to accomplish the results desired.

In the present instance, the front side 23 of the border wire and the auxiliary wire l8 cooperate with each other to provide a proper sitting edge for the upholstery material or other covering (not shown) for the spring structure. Such edge projects forwardly and overhangs the front of the structure so as to obtain the desired Width or sitting area at the top of the structure while maintaining the area of the structure below said edge at predetermined lower dimensions for proper placement upon a correspondingly small supporting portion of the vehicle.

Although I have shown and described a spring structure for vehicle seat cushions as one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the inventive concept set forth may be incorporated in a cushion of any desired character regardless of whether it is to be used in a vehicle seat or in any other type of cushion where a spring structure is desired.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A seat cushion spring structure having a group of interconnected upright coil springs, an upper border wire enclosure for said group, an auxiliary wire extending between and secured to opposite sides of the enclosure just in advance of the foremost springs of the group and disposed substantially parallel to the front part of the enclosure, said auxiliary wire having one or more forwardly projecting rearwardly opening U- shaped portions secured to the front part of the enclosure, the springs adjacent the sides and rear part of the enclosure being connected thereto, the springs adjacent the auxiliary Wire being connected thereto, and means reinforcing the auxiliary wire and providing laterally outward beyond the same a seat for upholstery material of the seat cushion, comprising a substantially fiat spring metal strip entirely above and overlying the auxiliary wire and coil springs adjacent thereto and covering substantially all of the connections aforesaid therebetween, said strip extending lengthwise of the auxiliary wire and overhanging and projecting laterally outward beyond the same, the outer longitudinal edge of said strip being substantially parallel to the front part of the enclosure, and means connecting the strip to the auxiliary wire and springs adjacent thereto whereby said strip also provides a flexible coupling therebetween.

2. A seat cushion spring structure having a group of interconnected upright coil springs, an upper border enclosure for said group, an auxiliary wire extending between and secured to opposite sides of the enclosure just in advance of the foremost springs of the group and disposed substantially parallel to the front part of the enclosure, said auxiliary wire having one or more forwardly projecting rearwardly opening U- shaped portions secured to the front part of the enclosure, the springs adjacent the sides and rear part of the enclosure being connected thereto, the springs adjacent the auxiliary wire being connected thereto, and means reinforcing the auxiliary wire and providing laterally outward beyond the same a seat for upholstery material of the seat cushion, comprising a substantially flat spring metal strip entirely above and overlying the auxiliary wire and coil springs adjacent thereto and covering substantially all of the connections aforesaid therebetween, said strip extending lengthwise of the auxiliary wire and overhanging and projecting laterally outward beyond the same toward the front part of the enclosure, and means connecting the strip to the auxiliary wire and springs adjacent thereto whereby said strip also provides a flexible coupling therebetween.

3. A seat cushion spring structure having a group of interconnected upright coil springs, an upper border wire enclosure for said group, an auxiliary wire extending between and secured to opposite sides of the enclosure just in advance of the foremost springs of the group and disposed substantially parallel to the front part of the enclosure, said auxiliary wire having one or more forwardly projecting rearwardly opening U- shaped portions secured to the front part of the enclosure, the springs adjacent the sides and rear part of the enclosure being connected thereto, the springs adjacent the auxiliary wire being connected thereto, and means reinforcing the auxiliary wire and providing laterally outward beyond the same a seat for upholstery material of the seat cushion, comprising a substantially flat spring metal strip entirely above and overlying the auxiliary wire and coil springs adjacent thereto and covering substantially all of the connections aforesaid therebetween, said strip extending lengthwise of the auxiliary wire and overhanging and projecting laterally outward beyond the same, the outer longitudinal edge of said strip being substantially parallel to the front part of the enclosure, means connecting the strip to the auxiliary wire, and means connecting the strip to the springs adjacent said auxiliary wire.

4 A seat cushion spring: structure having a group of interconnected upright coil springs, an upper border enclosure for said group, an auxiliary wire extending between and secured to opposite sides of the enclosure just in advance'of the foremost springs of the group and disposed substantially parallel to the front part of the enclosure, said auxiliary wire having one or more forwardly projecting rearwardly opening U- shaped portions secured to the front part of the enclosure, the springs adjacent the sides and rear part of the enclosure being connected thereto, the springs adjacent the auxiliary wire being connected thereto, and means reinforcing the auxiliary wire and providing laterally outward beyond the same a seat forupholstery material of the seat cushion, comprising a substantially flat spring metal strip entirely above and overlying the auxiliary wire and coil springs adjacent thereto and covering substantially all of the connections aforesaid therebetween, said strip extending lengthwise of the auxiliary wire and overhanging and projecting laterally outward beyond the same toward the front part of the enclosure, said strip being connected to the auxiliary wire and springs adjacent thereto whereby said strip also provides a flexible coupling therebetween.

ANTHONY PUDLO. 

